Mourners pay respects to Seigenthaler

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Mourners are paying respects to John Seigenthaler, the journalist who once edited The Tennessean newspaper, helped shape USA Today and worked for civil rights during the John F. Kennedy administration.

Thousands of people streamed into the John Seigenthaler Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, for Sunday's memorial.

Seigenthaler died Friday at his Nashville home at age 86. His funeral is scheduled for Monday.

Seigenthaler's casket was placed Sunday in the lobby of the center devoted to his life's work on issues of media freedom.

A blue banner inscribed with the wording of the First Amendment. A police honor guard flanked the casket.

The center's auditorium ran a collection of photos spanning Seigenthaler's career as a journalist, free speech champion and confidant and aide to the Kennedy family.